Go with the Flow Jo!

Have you ever heard the term ‘be in the flow’?

Of course you have! Right?

Have you ever experienced it?

Well I always thought that it was a delicious hippy term harkening back to hot knifing hash or taking mushrooms at a concert and just being in the vibe of the moment - but apparently it is not all fun and games - it is an actual state of being. 

The concept of flow comes from the field of positive psychology, which is the study of things that help humans thrive and was coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who was an influential part of the movement.

Flow has similarities with mindfulness, as both involve a focus on the present moment. We also use “flow” in reference to situations around productivity where you can be in a state of mindfulness regardless of whether you are doing a task or not.

Similar to ‘being in the zone’ - ‘flow state’ describes a mental state in which a person is completely focused on a single task or activity, directing all of their attention toward the task, and do not experience many thoughts about themselves or their performance. 

So how do you get into ‘flow’? Well - any task that absorbs all of your attention but does not overwhelm you could induce a flow state. The types of activities will vary from person to person, depending on what they find interesting, enjoyable, or challenging.

For me it is baking sourdough bread, walking, swimming, painting silly little watercolours, playing piano, harp or ukulele, getting lost in a book or working on a new delicious project.

Here is a cool fact - during a state of flow, several changes take place in the brain and studies have shown that the dopamine reward system plays an important role. Cool! 

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that supports feelings of motivation, pleasure, and reward. It can also help suppress bodily sensations, such as hunger. People in a state of flow have higher levels of dopamine, which could explain why they might not notice that they are hungry or tired.

Back to positive psychology - theorists believe that flow is important for psychological health and well-being including:

• fewer distractions

• better performance

• less self-judgment

• greater motivation to complete tasks

• the ability to spend a longer time on tasks

• more practice, allowing someone to gain skill and competence

Here is a fabulous article all about flow for you to dig in deeper too! xoxo

“Control over consciousness is not simply a cognitive skill. At least as much as intelligence, it requires the commitment of emotions and will. It is not enough to know how to do it; one must do it, consistently, in the same way as athletes or musicians who must keep practicing what they know in theory.”

— Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi